HCTiger9704

I often buy postcards while on vacation (including when I am on a cruise ship) and mail them to family, friends, and strangers.  If I am on a cruise, I wait until I get home to mail them.  

With the strangers that I mail them too, I know a few teachers from online that uses postcards in the classroom who uses postcards to help teach history, geography, est.  I am also into a hobby called Postcrossing, an online project for people to exchange postcards with other members globally. 
 

Does anyone know of where I can buy a cruise ship theme bank bag (aka deposit bag)?  I been trying to find one online for over a year now and so far, I have not been able to find one. 

I know it is too late to be useful to help you, unless you sail out of New Orleans again, but just in case somebody else reads this thread looking for advice, I just want to mention that one of my friends from Where's George sails out of New Orleans every year.  She and her husband stays at Holiday Inn New Orleans West Bank Tower on the border of Gretna and Terrytown to take advantage of the Stay Park and Cruise Package.  

One of my friends from Where's George always stay at the Holiday Inn New Orleans West Bank Tower to take advantage of the hotel's Stay, Park, & Cruise package.  

8 minutes ago, jcathers1 said:

One of the Seashore itineraries currently stops at St. Thomas. 

Thank you. I found what I am looking for. 

Does any of the ships for MSC Cruises stop in the US Virgin Islands?

I know they used too (the MSC Cruise that was cancelled in April 2020 was supposed to stop in the US Virgin Islands).  But I check out their website and could not find any of their cruises that stop at the US Virgin Islands.  

If you or your partner enjoys history, The National WWII Museum is awesome.  Might be something you want to look into.

If you enjoy animals, check out the Audubon Nature Institute, which runs places like the Audubon Zoo and the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.

After my cruise was cancelled in March, I requested a refund.  My cruise was on the MSC Seaside for the April 18, 2020 sailing.  MSC Cruises kept on giving me the runaround.  

I disputed the charges on my credit cards (Visa and an American Express) about two weeks ago.  Today, American Express got my money back (aka a chargeback).  Now I am waiting on my Visa credit card to see if they can get me the rest of my money.  

49 minutes ago, nunuc2000 said:

One person had stated previously that if passengers disputed these charges with their credit card companies, that MSC might not accept a future booking from said persons. Oh no.. say it ain't so! (Can you hear the sarcasm in my words?)  

 

I just disputed the charges on my credit cards two weeks ago (I mailed in the paperwork since I wanted to include the emails I got from MSC Cruises).  I hope I have the same luck as you.  I am an American so I could request a refund or a future cruise credit.  I choose the refund in March and still have not gotten anything from them. 

Yeah, if they don't accept a future booking from me, I don't mind.  Since how I feel about them giving me the run around instead of being honest with me, I think my next cruise will be with either Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line or Norwegian Cruise Line.  I have sailed with NCL four times and Carnival two times and wanted to try MSC Cruises.  I was going to rebook with MSC Cruises the next time I cruise but after my experience with trying to get my refund from them, I am more than happy to spend money with another cruise line.  I do not know when I will be able to cruise again so that is why I requested the refund instead of the Future Cruise Credit.

I was supposed to sail on the MSC Seaside out of Miami, FL for the April 18, 2020 sailing.  It was cancelled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic.  In the United States, we were given an option of a refund or  125% Future Cruise Credit and at that time, they said I would get the refund in 60 days.  In March 2020, I choose the the refund since I do not know when I will be able to cruise again (work, family responsibility, est.).  As of today, I have not received any of the refund that I requested.  And I feel like I am just getting the run around instead of an honest answer.    

Has anybody disputed the charges with your credit cards?  If so, what was the outcome?

My cruise on the MSC Seaside was cancelled in March. I was suppose to sail on the April 18, 2020 sailing.

As of May 21, 2020, I have not received my refund. I did request the refund instead of the 125% credit. 

I do not know yet when I am going on my next cruise, but I did decided to go ahead and get my flu shot today. 

How is MSC Cruises different than NCL and Carnival?  How is MSC Cruises similar to NCL and Carnival?

Thank you for the responses.  It makes me more comfortable booking a cruise in February.  

A few years ago, I went on a family vacation to Cancun, Mexico and I did not do the enough research.  I ended up getting sick from too much sun and I got food poisoning (both at the same time).  I feel like if I done the correct research (including asking questions on forums), I would have been more prepared in I could have prevented getting sick in Cancun.  So after that experience, I always do research which includes asking people questions.  

In the United States, the flu season is considered October through May. It usually peaks in February.  The cold season begins around late August and lasts until March or April.

How safe are cruise ships during the peak of flu season and cold season?  Should that be a major concern for people who are thinking cruising in February?  

I usually sail in April because that is towards the end of the flu/cold season, it is after St. Patrick's Day (I belong to two Irish-American clubs), and it is not too hot but not to cold.  Sadly, Easter is April 12, 2020 so that prevents me from cruising in April (raising the cost of a cruise, work, and I want to spend that time with my nieces and nephew).  I am just wondering should I take flu/cold season into consideration while doing research for planning my next cruise.  

I heard that Royal Caribbean have some cruise ships with studio cabins.  Which Royal Caribbean cruise ships have the studio cabins?  

I been on six cruises and have been Geocaching on my last two cruises.  I have found Geocaches in Progresso (Mexico) and Cozumel (Mexico).  

The 6 Best Cruise Lines for Solo Travelers

I follow The Points Guy and noticed this article about what cruise lines they think is best for solo travelers.  I thought some of you would want to check it out.  

Have anybody applied for this credit card and been denied?  If so, what reason(s) were you denied for?

Will the Scarlet Lady have cabins for solo travelers like a few of the other cruise lines do?  

I am sailing on the Norwegian Breakaway (March 31, 2019).  Can I get change while I am on the ship?  If so, where do I go to, to get change (ones and fives)?

I just want to keep sure I have plenty of change for tips, especially while in port (I also tip extra while I am on the cruise ship).  

In a few weeks (March 31, 2019 to April 7, 2019), I am sailing on the Norwegian Breakaway.  Does any of the stores on the Norwegian Breakaway sell postcards?  If so, do you remember which one(s)?

I enjoy mailing postcards.  I will be buying postcards while at port, but if there are any postcards for sell on the Norwegian Breakaway, I will pick up a few on the ship also. 

My mom, dad and my mom's friends (with their husbands) are going on a Carnival Cruise out of Galveston, Texas.  

Does any hotels in Galveston, TX have the Stay, Park & Cruise Package?    

And I am assuming I can buy the packages on the cruise ship?    

I am going on a seven day cruise on the Norwegian Breakaway (I leave on March 31, 2019).  Do I have to buy the internet package for the whole week or can I only buy it for 24 hours?  

One of my hobbies is Geocaching.  While in port, I would like to find at least one geocache in each port.  When I get pack on the ship, I would like to log the Geocaches that I have found.  So I would only need the internet for three days, not the entire seven days.